Placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#The placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea is a substantial factor associated with analgesia. However, the magnitude of the placebo response is unclear.@*OBJECTIVE@#This meta-analysis assessed the effects of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and the factors contributing to these effects.@*SEARCH STRATEGY@#PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception up to August 20, 2022.@*INCLUSION CRITERIA@#Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using sham acupuncture as a control for female patients of reproductive age with primary dysmenorrhea were included.@*DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS@#Pain intensity, retrospective symptom scale, and health-related quality of life were outcome measures used in these trials. Placebo response was defined as the change in the outcome of interest from baseline to endpoint. We used standardized mean difference (SMD) to estimate the effect size of the placebo response.@*RESULTS@#Thirteen RCTs were included. The pooled placebo response size for pain intensity was the largest (SMD = -0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.31 to -0.68), followed by the retrospective symptom scale (Total frequency rating score: SMD = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.39. Average severity score: SMD = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.20) and physical component of SF-36 (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.72). Studies using blunt-tip needles, single-center trials, studies with a low risk of bias, studies in which patients had a longer disease course, studies in which clinicians had < 5 years of experience, and trials conducted outside Asia were more likely to have a lower placebo response.@*CONCLUSION@#Strong placebo response and some relative factors were found in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022304215. Please cite this article as: Sun CY, Xiong ZY, Sun CY, Ma PH, Liu XY, Sun CY, Xin ZY, Liu BY, Liu CZ, Yan SY. Placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 455-463.

Research progress on the application of photodynamic therapy in periodontal treatment / 口腔疾病防治

@#Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is initiated by bacteria. Pathogens and their virulence factors alter normal cellular metabolic activity and deteriorate periodontal microconditions. Owing to the complexity of tooth structure and the limitation of conventional treatment, we may not live up to all patients’ expectations, especially those with grade C and stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ periodontitis. With the advantages of bactericidal effects, high safety, inhibition of bacterial drug resistance and promotion of tissue healing, photodynamic therapy （PDT） seems to be an ideal technology in periodontal treatment. However, it cannot remove subgingival stones and still cannot replace mechanical treatment to preliminarily control periodontal inflammation. Therefore, near-infrared low-energy light combined with traditional photosensitizers is mostly used in clinical periodontal adjuvant treatment. In periodontal maintenance treatment on a regular basis, a single application can also reduce the sensitivity of patients and effectively control plaque, but its effect will be affected by the degree of periodontal inflammation, the concentration and type of photosensitizer, the energy of the light source, etc. With the further development of material science, the performance of photosensitizers to accelerate oxides and target bacteria will be optimized. In the future, parameters of PDT need to be designed in large-scale studies in accord with different stages and grades of periodontitis.

Rapid detection and identification of infectious pathogens based on high-throughput sequencing / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The dilemma of pathogens identification in patients with unidentified clinical symptoms such as fever of unknown origin exists, which not only poses a challenge to both the diagnostic and therapeutic process by itself, but also to expert physicians.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this report, we have attempted to increase the awareness of unidentified pathogens by developing a method to investigate hitherto unidentified infectious pathogens based on unbiased high-throughput sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Our observations show that this method supplements current diagnostic technology that predominantly relies on information derived five cases from the intensive care unit. This methodological approach detects viruses and corrects the incidence of false positive detection rates of pathogens in a much shorter period. Through our method is followed by polymerase chain reaction validation, we could identify infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and in another case, we could identify infection with Streptococcus viridians based on the culture, which was false positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This technology is a promising approach to revolutionize rapid diagnosis of infectious pathogens and to guide therapy that might result in the improvement of personalized medicine.</p>

Establishment and optimization of the regeneration system for common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) / 生物工程学报

A protocol is presented for direct and indirect regeneration of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) from leaf and petiole explants. Multiple shoots were obtained on MS medium containing 0.2 mg/L IAA and 1 mg/L TDZ. For indirect regeneration, fragile calli were obtained from leaf and petiole explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 2.0 mg/L 6-BA. Regenerated plantlets were obtained when these calli were cultured on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L 6-BA. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of nine regenerated plantlets revealed 61 scorable bands from 10 primers, including three specific bands.

Establishment and optimization of in vitro regeneration system for Plantago major L / 生物工程学报

Plantago major is not only used as medicinal herb but also an important model plant of ecology. Little work has been reported on the tissue culture of P. major. A reproducible system for direct shoot morphogenesis and callus induction of Plantago major L. 'Giant Turkish' was described. Using seed as explants, the adventitious buds were obtained 4 to 5 weeks following incubation on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L IAA and 1.0 mg/L TDZ. The frequency of adventitious buds was as high as 100%. The average number of buds per explant was 14.6. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis on 9 regenerants indicated that somaclonal variation occurred at DNA level. Using leaves as explants, calli were easily induced on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA 3 weeks following inoculation. The frequency of callus induction can be as high as 98%. On MS medium containing 4.0 mg/L 6-BA, 25% of calli differentiated and the mean number of buds per piece of callus was 2.8. The buds developed roots on 11/2 MS medium and formed plantlets, 90% of which survived when transplanted to greenhouse.